Leaflets three, let them be
Berries of white, hide from sight
I learned that little poem in Girl Guides. It didn’t really apply in Northern B.C., although I recall trying to find a plant that matched the criteria when I was young. In Ontario, we see it with Poison Ivy, which I’ve only ever seen as a small ground cover type plant. The poem is much more applicable to Poison Oak – which is rather prevalent in this area (Northern California). Poison Oak, like in the picture below, can be a rather large bush. We often saw it growing 5 or 6 feet tall.
At least I believe this is Poison Oak, as we were told to be aware of it anytime we thought about going off the path. This picture was taken across the street from our campsite at Cerro Alto campground in the Los Padres National Forest. Anyone care to confirm?
There’s a new one I’d known about for decades because of an old Genesis song, but I didn’t think it was real. Turns out it is and it can grow to 6 *metres* high!
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/06/05/bc-giant-hogweed.html